FOLLOW PHOTOS

Under the mass-rapid transportation plan, Delhi metro construction had started in 1998 and the first line was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 24, 2002. Since then Delhi- metro has a come a long way by giving five operational line plus a special airport express line.It is currently working on its phase 3 project which will be made available for public use in September 2017.

The Pink Line (phase 3) with 38 metro stations has been laid like a ring touching all parts of Delhi and will also pass through Noida. It has eight interchange stations in the line alone. The underground construction component is 38-km-long against phase 1 which was only 13-km-long.

Delhi metro project led by Delhi metro rail corporation (DMRC) is state owned. Padma Vibhushan E Shreedharan spearheaded the project as Managing Director in 1995 but later handed over the duties to Mr. Mangu singh on December 11, 2011.

DMRC has been certified by United Nations as first rail based system to get "carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions".

Delhi metro fare hiked by 25-67% from May 10, 2017. The minimum fare will be Rs 10, up from Rs 8; the maximum Rs 50 against the existing Rs 30, after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Board gave its go-ahead on May 8, 2017 for the fare hike recommended by a panel. However, there will be concessions for passengers using the Metro on Sundays and national holidays. The fares on these days will be between Rs 10 and Rs 40 till September-end. The concessional rates will be be revised from October 1 as well.

With the Delhi Metro’s expansion project nearing the completion of its third phase by March 2018, the number of metro trains is expected to increase by 45%.

The metro rail network will expand from 218 km to 348 km and the number of trains will go up from its present 227 to 328. The number of coaches will also increase from 1,468 to 2,158.